Skin tensioner for shavers



June 12, 1956 R. v. MILLER smu TENSIONER FOR SHAVERS 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 5]., 1952 IN VEN TOR:

June 12, 1956 R. v. MILLER SKIN TENSIONER FOR SHAVERS 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 51, 1952 FIG. 5

IN VEN TOR:

June 12, 1956 R. v. MILLER SKIN TENSIONER FOR SHAVERS 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Oct. 31, 1952 m m m m FI.G.9

June 12, 1956 v, MILLER 2,749,613

SKIN TENSIONER FOR SHAVERS Filed Oct. 31, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 I5 FIG.|Ib

IN VEN TOR:

United States Patent '0 i SKIN TENSIONER FOR SHAVERS Raymond Vernon Miller, New York, N. Y.

Application October 31, 1952, Serial No. 317,944

18 Claims. (Cl. 30-34) This invention relates to skin tensioners for dry shavers, and more particularly to improved structure that is at the same time simpler and more compact than previous structures, for eliminating the unwanted tensioning action of any skin contacting element in contact with the flesh on the face of the user Whenever said element follows to the rear of the shaver head as the shaver is moved or traversed across the flesh on the users face. The invention also relates particularly to improved structure for providing the delicate control of pressure required for successful use of devices of this type.

Various types of so-called guards and skin tensioning devices have been proposed for use .in conjunction with dry shavers for flattening out the small furrows or wrinkles just ahead of and at the shearing element, in order to enable the shearing edges to get at the bases of the hairs and thus produce closer and quicker shaves. Various drawbacks attend each device thus far proposed, so that they do not produce the result desired, and none of them have yet been placed on the market.

The present invention has been developed from actual use of working specimens of previous models of such devices originated and built by applicant. It retains the proven basic requirement that an element to the rear of the shaver head must never be allowed to compress the flesh into a mound ahead of the element, thereby forming small furrows in the skin which enclose the bases of the hairs and prevent the shearing edges of the cutter from getting at them. Experience has definitely proved that the area just ahead of a skin contacting element to the rear of the shaver head is the critical area in dry shaving; it is the area where the cutting edges are operating, and it is the one area where there must be no folds or wrinkles in the skin, however small, if a close shave, an eflicient shave and a quick shave is to be obtained. The present invention incorporates simpler structure accompanied by reduction in number of parts, making the device more compact and lighter in weight than heretofore. It includes, in addition, ingenious control mechanism that enables the user to automatically provide the delicate balance of-pressure required in devices of this kind to adapt same to the individual requirements of his own particular face. This mechanism provides for pre-selecting the pressure desired, and of either holding that pressure or varying it at will; it provides for withdrawing the skin contacting element entirely from operating contact with the flesh on the face, and it provides an adjustable stop for selecting the maximum pressure that can be applied by the device.

As is well known, dry shavers are two-way devices; they are designed and intended to be used and are most efficiently used for an up and down or a forward and backward series of strokes. Thus there is always an element to the rear of the shaver head; even with a single skin contacting element, it (the element) pushes from the rear as soon as the direction of the stroke is reversed. If there is only a single element, and provision is not made to eliminate its action when the stroke is reversed, then the reverse stroke of the shaving cutter will be ineflicient because the hair bases are then enclosed in the Wrinkles formed by the mound of flesh generated by traversing the element over the flesh while being pressed against the flesh. If there are two tensioning elements, one on each side of the cutter head, and provision is not made to eliminate the action of the element that is to the rear of the advancing cutter head, then there will always be (for both the forward stroke and the backward stroke) one skin contacting element following to the rear of the shaver head, which element to the rear will always be generating the mound of flesh that is inevitable on any normal mans face as found in nature, and that cannot help forming the wrinkles that enclose the hair bases and thus prevent the shearing edges from giving a close shave.

It will be noted that applicants device does meet the above described situation encountered in shaving, by providing the means to automatically prevent the rear skin contacting element from exerting any forward pushing action on the flesh, thus producing a new skin tensioning result for two-way strokes not found in presently known devices.

In the drawings:

Figures 1, 2 and 3 show the device in position on the flesh of the users face, in the condition where the skin contacting elements of the tensioner are being pressed against the flesh of the face but where the shaver head itself is not yet in contact with the flesh but is a short distance away from the flesh.

Fig. l is a side elevation taken while the shaver is being moved upward, showing the action of the tensioner on the flesh of the users face.

Fig. 2 is a plan view.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation taken while the shaver is being moved downward, showing the action of the tensioner on the flesh of the users face.

Figs. 4, 5 and 6 show the device in position on the flesh of the users face, in the condition where the skin contacting elements of the tensioner are being pressed against the flesh of the users face, and where the shaver head is also being pressed against the flesh.

Fig. 4 is a side elevation taken while the shaver is being moved upward on the flesh of the users face, showing the action of the tensioner on the flesh and skin.

Fig. 5 is a plan view.

Fig. 6 is a side elevation taken while the shaver is being moved downward on the flesh of the users face, showing the action of the tensioner on the flesh and on the skin.

Figs. 7 and 8 show the shaver head in position on the flesh of the users face, the device being in the con: dition where the skin contacting elements of the tensioner are withdrawn to inoperative position, away from the flesh, for use in a situation as when it may be desired to shave close to the lower part of the nose.

Fig. 7 is a side elevation.

Fig. 8 is a plan view.

Fig. 9 is a cross section of the tensioner taken along the line 9-9 of Fig. 8 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 10 is an enlarged view of a portion of the upper tensioning unit, being taken on the portion nearest the flesh of the user. The full lines show the relationship of the parts when the device is in position on the flesh of the user in the same condition as shown for the upper,

element in Fig. 1 and also for the upper element in Fig 4, wherein the shaver is in the process of being moved upward on the flesh of the users face. v

The dotted lines in Fig. 10 show the relationship of the same parts when the device is in the same condition as shown for the upper element in Fig. 3 and also for the upper element of Fig. 6, the shaver in this case Patented June 12, 1956 being in the process of being moved downward on the flesh of the users face. The dotted arrow in Fig. 10 indicates that the skin contacting element, when in the position shown by the dotted lines, is free to rotate unrestricted as the shaver is moved downward across the flesh with the element being pressed against the flesh but merely rolling upon the flesh, not pushing against it.

Fig. 11a is an enlarged plan view showing the control mechanism by which the operatign pressure on the skin contacting element is selected, is set for uniform pressnr operation or for varied pressure operation, or by r the skin contacting element is withdrawn to inopcra position away from the flesh of the users face.

Fig. 11]) is a view taken on line 11b11b of the enlarged view in Fig. 11a in the direction of the arrows, showing the stop for limiting the withdrawn position of the skin contacting. elements, the adjustable stop for maximum pressure, and the milled-headed screw for porarily locking out of action the pressurc-.-,elcctnig notches from engagement with the operating lever.

Fig. 110 is a view on line 11c11c of Fig. llrz in the direction of the arrows, showing the operating lever, the stop limiting the travel of the lever for the inoperative position of the skin contacting elements, and the adjustable stop for limiting the maximum pressure the skin contacting elements can exert against the flesh.

In the device illustrated by the drawings a cylindricalshaped skin contacting element 1 having a roughened peripheral surface is secured to an axle 2, said axle being coincident with the axis of the element. A ratchet wheel 3 having ratchet-shaped teeth on its periphery is fastened to the axle near one end of the cylindrical element, as shown. The ends of axle 2 are journalled in a yoke made up of parts 4, and 6, as shown. Each of the two side members 4 and 5 of the yoke is rigidly fastened to the shaft 6 which connects them together, thereby forming one operating unit.

A sliding member 7 movable back and forth within channel-shaped tracks 13 and 14 has on each side at its forward end (nearest the shaver head) a projection, each projection being bent to form a right angle in t" direction toward the shaving device, thus forming l..- lugs 8 and 9. A hole in each lug forms a journal for one end of the shaft 6 of the above mentioned yoke 4, 5, 6, which supports the rotatable skin contacting element 1. The yoke 4, 5, 6 is thus pivotally supported between lugs 8 and 9. This manner of connecting the yoke to the sliding member 7 permits skin contacting elcment 1 to move back and forth in a small are which, at its mid point, is substantially parallel to the direction of the shaving stroke. It will be noted that with the construction illustrated and described the skin contacting element is permitted to travel only a few degrees back and forth within this are.

The amount of movement by the skin contacting element within this are is limited in one direction by the side of a wire 10 which bears against the side member 4 when member 4 moves toward wire 10 while pivoting about shaft 6; and the amount of movement by the skin contacting element in the other direction is limited by the pointed end of wire 11 which bears against the ratchet wheel 3 and acts as a locking pawl when ratchet wheel 3 moves toward pawl 11 as member 4 pivots slightly about shaft 6 due to the fact that the shaver 47 is being moved across the face of the used while pressure from the spring 21 is urging sliding member 7 and skin contacting element 1 toward and against the flesh on the users face. Wire 10 and pointed wire 11 (the pawl) are both rigidly attached to sliding member 7, as shown.

It will be noted that when side member 4 moves against wire 10, the element 1 is free to rotate in either direction, but that when side member 4 moves in the opposite direction so that ratchet wheel 3 bears against the pointed wire 11 (pawl) the skin contacting element 1 .4 is locked against rotation in one direction. The parts are so arranged that when the skin contacting element is in advance of the shaver head 48 (as the shaver is moved acros the face of the user) the ratchet-shaped gear 3 will automatically bear against the pointed wire 11 and will prevent the skin contacting element 1 from rotating; in this condition, as the movement across the face continues, with spring 21 urging element 1 against the flesh, the locked skin contacting element 1 acts as a skin tensioner, pulling on the flesh that is behind it and pushing against he flesh that is in front of it.

The same arrangement of parts insures, on the other hand, that when the skin contacting element is following to the rear of the shaver head 43 as the shaver is moved across the face with spring 21 urging the element against the flesh, the side member 4 will automatically bear against the wire 10, and there will be nothing to prevent free rotation of element 1 upon its axles; in this condition, as the movement across the face continues, the free-rolling skin contacting element which is being pressed against the flesh merely rolls over the skin, neither pulling on the flesh that is behind it nor pushing forward on the flesh that is in front of it.

Sliding member 7 fits closely within a guide piece 12, on which channel shaped guiding tracks 13 and 14 are formed by bending each side edge of the guide piece first down (toward the shaver body) and then inward toward the center of the guide piece. Within these tracks 13 and 14 the sliding member 7 is free to move forward and backward as illustrated. The direction of the forward and backward sliding movement is arranged so as to be substantially perpendicular to the shaving stroke and substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the shaving device. Guide piece 12 is fastened to the shaver as later described. The range of travel of sliding member 7 within the tracks 13 and 14, and consequently the range of travel of the skin contacting element 1 rotatably journalled on the oscillatable yoke 4, 5, 6 which yoke is supported on sliding member 7 as illustrated and described, is from the forwardmost position shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 to the rearward position shown in Figs. 7 and 8. (Forward is here intended to mean toward the shaver head) Guide piece 12 is fastened to the body 47 or frame of the shaving device by any convenient means. In the device illustrated the guide piece 12 is fastened to an cncircling band 15 shaped to fit around the forward end of the shaver body. Projections such as 16 and 17 may be employed to position band 15 longitudinally on the shaver body; and band 15 may be fastened to the shaver body 47 or frame by a screw such as 18. In lieu of screw 18 the band 15 can be prevented from coming forward on the shaver body under operating pressure, by other equivalent means such as two side straps extending to the rear from the band plus a rear encircling baud near the rear of the shaver body 47 where the diameter is smaller than at band 15, which rear band snaps in place over the side straps and is held there by projections on the side straps.

To strengthen the fastening of guide piece 12 to the shaver body, and to avoid bending at the forward end due to pressure, a short channel-shaped spacer may be fastened or formed on each forward side of the guide piece, as 19 and 2 An operating pressure spring 21 formed of spring wire, as shown (Figs. 8 and 9, also 5 and 2) has one end turned up at about degrees to form a lug 22 which fits into and engages a transverse groove 23 formed in sliding member 7, as shown. This groove extends at right angles to the direction of movement of sliding member 7. Its purpose is to allow the lug 22 to move unrestricted on the circumference of a circle whose center is at the operating lever pivot 25, while at the same time maintaining a close operating fit to form the operative connection between spring 21 and the sliding member 7.

angers The spiral shaped end of spring 21 is secured to the upper extension 24 of the pivot 25 of operating lever 26, as shown (Figs. 9 and 11a). The operating lever pivot 25 is journalled in brackets 27 and 28 which are fastened to band 15. Thrust washers 29 and 30 are fastened to pivot 25 as shown.

Figs. 11a and 110 show the operating lever 26 and its pivot 25, and the upper extension 24 of the pivot. The full lines of Fig. 11a show the operating lever in the position corresponding to the rearward position of skin contacting element 1, illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8; a flat curved spring 31 having one end fastened to band 15 constantly urges operating lever 26 to the above mentioned position shown by the full lines.

A pressure selecting plate 32 (Figs. 11a, llb and 110) is pivoted on a milled-headed screw 33 as shown. Screw 33 is threaded into the lower half of bracket 41, as shown. Bracket 41 is fastened to band 15. This pressure selecting plate contains a stop 34 projecting below it, as shown, to limit the position of operating lever 26 corresponding to the withdrawn (away from the users face) position of skin contacting element 1.

Pressure selecting plate 32 also has an adjustable stop 35 for limiting the. amount of movement of operating lever 26 toward the shaver body; this adjustable stop 35 therefore limits the amount of spring pressure that can be built up in the coils of spring 21. The selected maximum cannot be exceeded. This adjustable stop, which may be shaped like a spring cotter pin, is sized for a close fit in holes 36, 37 and 38. The stop may be placed in any one of holes 36, 37 or 38, as desired, depending on the amount of pressure with which it is desired to have the skin contacting element 1 urged against the flesh while shaving with the device.

A curved flat spring 39 having one end fastened to band 15 constantly urges pressure plate 32 in a counterclockwise direction (in Fig. 11a) so that the side of the pressure plate constantly bears against portion 40 of the operating lever 26. Pressure selecting notches 42, 43 and 44 are formed on the side of pressure plate 32 and at an angle therewith, as shown. Thus for any intermediate position of operating lever 26, as at the dotted position in Fig. 11a, one or the other of pressure selecting notches 42, 43 or 44 automatically closes in around portion 40 of operating lever 26, thus holding the operating lever in the position selected. Spring 39 holds the notch against portion 40 of the operating lever, while spring 31 urges the operating lever away from the shaver body. On account of the inclined direction of the notches with respect to the side of pressure selecting plate 32 the spring 31 and (during the shaving stroke while the flesh is pushing element 1 in return direction) the communicated pressure from spring 21 combine to urge portion 40 of the operating lever farther into whichever notch it happens to be in, and to lock portion 40 in the selected position.

In Fig. lla 401 represents portion 40 of the operating lever held in notch 43 (in the dotted position of pressure selecting plate 32) by the action of springs 31 and 39 (and also of spring 21 while the shaving operation is in progress) while operating lever 26 is in the intermediate position shown by the dotted lines.

Thus far in this specification the description of the invention has been confined to the structure of one skin tensioning unit fastened to the shaver above the shaver head, in the figures of the drawing.

Because electric dry shavers are customarily operated in two directions, that is up and down, or forward and backward, across the face of the user, and because such shavers are more eflicient when so operated, this invention includes a second and exactly similar skin tensioning unit to the one thus far described, but placed below the shaver head 48 (in the several figures) and inverted with respect to the unit previously described herein. In the figures this lower inverted unit has its parts marked with the same reference numbers as the identical parts in the upper unit except that each number pertaining to the lower unit has the prime symbol added. For example, as the upper operating pressure spring is number 21, the lower operating pressure spring is numbered 21. Each part in the lower unit marked with the prime symbol is identical with its correspondingly numbered part in the upper unit.

The spiral shaped end of lower operating pressure spring 21 is secured to the lower extension 45 of operating lever pivot 25. The one operating lever 26 and the one pressure selecting plate 32 operate through the upper and lower extensions 24 and 45, respectively, of the pivot 25, to control both the upper skin tensioning unit and the lower skin tensioning unit simultaneously and in exactly identical manner for each unit.

This arrangement of two tensioning units provides that on the upward movement of the shaving device across the flesh on the face of the user the upper skin tensioning unit functions as such to tension the skin in advance of and at the shaver head, while the lower skin contacting element merely rolls freely on the flesh of the face, neither pulling nor pushing the flesh in the direction of the movement of the shaver across the face; and provides that on the downward movement of the shaving device across the flesh the lower skin tensioning unit functions as such to tension the skin in advance of and at the moving shaver head, while the upper skin contacting element merely rolls freely on the flesh of the face, neither pulling nor pushing the flesh in the direction of the movement of the shaver across the face.

Mode of operation Adjustable stop 35 is set in whichever hole in the pressure selecting plate (36, 37 or 38) corresponds to the maximum pressure with which it is desired to have the skin contacting element 1 urged against the flesh of the face during the shaving operation. Milled-headed screw 33 is normally not tightened into its nut in the lower portion of its bracket 41 but is kept loose enough to allow free movement of pressure selecting plate 32 on its pivot.

Lever 26 is pulled clockwise about its pivot, by finger pressure of the users hand, as far toward the shaver body as it will go; the finger pressure is then released and the operating pressure remains and is maintained at the amount selected.

The shaving device 47 is then grasped by the users hand in the usual manner and is pressed against the face so that shaver head bears firmly against the flesh. Up and down or back and forth strokes over the face are then made in the usual manner of operating devices for dry shaving.

On each stroke the skin contacting element 1 that is in advance of the shaver head 48 as the shaving device is moved across the face, presses uniformly against the varying contours of the face and pulls lightly but uniformly on the portion of flesh that is in advance of the shaver head and at the shaver head, thereby lightly tensioning the skin and levelling out the wrinkles at exactly the right time and place to permit the shaver head to shear the hairs at their bases for a quick and close shave. At the same time, on each stroke, the skin contacting element that is to the rear of the shaver head 48 as the shaving device is moved across the face, presses uniformly against the flesh on the varying contours of the face but rotates freely and consequently does not build up any furrow of flesh ahead of itself which would otherwise compress the flesh in the direction of the stroke and would consequently nullify the tensioning action of the skin contacting element that is in advance of the moving shaver head.

If it is desired to vary the pressure of the skin contacting element against the flesh while the shaving strokes are being made, pressure from a finger of the user is applied against the outer end of pressure selecting plate 32 (the end farthest from its pivot) to move that end of the plate in a clockwise direction (in the figures of the drawing). This immediately causes the operating lever to be released from its positioning notch on plate 32 and to be forced by pressure from spring 31 to go to the position shown by full lines in Fig. lla; milledheaded screw 33 is then tightened into its nut by thumb and finger of user. A stop 46 near the screw 33 of plate 32 prevents clockwise movement of plate 32. beyond what is needed to make the adjusting notches clear portion 49 of the operating lever. Plate 32 is thus locked in its farthermost position in the clockwise direction (in the Figure llrz indicated by full lines). While thus locked out of action the notches 42, 43 and 44 do not engage portion at) of the operating lever; and the operating lever can be moved over its full range by users finger while making the shaving strokes.

When it may be desired to retract the skin contacting elements away from the flesh of the face while the shaver head 45} still remains pressed against the flesh, in order to move the skin contacting elements out of the way while shaving the upper lip close to the bottom of the nose, it is necessary merely to apply pressure from a finger of the user against the outer end of pressure plate 32 in a clockwise direction (in Fig. 11a); spring 31 then immediately pushes the operating lever counterclockwise to the position shown by full lines in Fig. 110; while the lever is in that position the springs 21 and 21' pull sliding members 7 and '7' away from the flesh on the face, causing skin contacting elements 1 and l to take the withdrawn positions shown in Figs. 7 and 8.

It is thus evident that the elastic equalities inherent in spurings 21 and 21 provide the resiliency by which elements 1 and 1 are urged to press against the flesh on the users face while the shaver head 48 is held against the flesh during the shaving operation; also that the position in which lever 26 is held governs the position that lug 22 tries to assume when the lug is not otherwise deflected. During the making of a shaving stroke over the varying contours of the users facial flesh lug 22 takes various positions in its longitudinal locus of travel, depending upon the resultant pressure upon it by opposing forces. Whatever may be the operating position where lever 26 is held, spring 21 tends to press the skin contacting element in the outward direction on the one hand, while the high portions on the fleshy facial contours, on the other hand, press on the skin contacting element to move it in return direction as the shaving device is moved over the varying contours of the users' face.

The above description of structure and operation explains why applicants device functions successfully for all directions of traversing the shaver across the face, whether forward and backwaurd or up and down. Applicants device is a two-way device. It is well known that dry shavers must be operated in two directions (forward and backward) to give successful results. This is because the hairs grow out from the skin on a mans face in various directions. All previously known devices other than applicants, wherein the skin contacting element is continually in contact with the flesh on the users face during shaving, are, at best, only one-Way devices; not only do all these devices fail to tension the skin when the shaver is moved in reverse direction during the shaving operation, but they actually compress a furrow of flesh a considerable distance ahead of the element to the rear of the shaver head when the shaver is moved in the reverse direction. This furrow completely defeats the attempt to bring the bases of the hairs close to the shearing edges of the cutting means, because the compressed mound of flesh generated by this action actually forms minute folds of skin within which the hair bases are proiected from the action-of the shearing edges. By thus isolating the bases of the hairs from contact with the cutting edges, the very result that" is ostensibly sought while employing these previously known devices to tension the skin while shaving, is actually made impossible.

The above effect of isolating the hair bases by forming the mound of flesh is bad enough in a device having but one skin contacting element on one side of the shaver head; but it is twice as bad when there are two such elements, one on each side of the shaver head.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a shaving device having a beard cutting means adapted to be moved in a stroke plane over the surface of the flesh bearing the hairs to be cut, and having a support secured to said device, a skin contacting element rotatably mounted on said support and spaced from and in proximity to said beard cutting means, a second element secured to the support cooperating with a third element on the skin contacting element for locking the skin contacting element against rotation in one direction while allowing the skin contacting element to rotate freely in the opposite direction when the shaving device is pressed against the flesh and moved across the face of the user to cut the hairs, whereby said skin contacting element tensions the flesh in advance of the beard cutting means.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said second and said third elements include a ratchet wheel.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein said second and said third elements include a pawl.

4. The combination of claim 1 with means causing said skin-contacting element to be pressure urged toward the face of the user during the shaving operation, together with means for varying the pressure with which said skin contacting element is urged toward the flesh on the face of the user.

5. The combination of claim 1 with means causing said skin-contacting element to be pressure urged toward the face of the user during the shaving operation, together with means for selectively setting and maintaining the pressure with which the skin contacting element is urged against the flesh on the face of the user during the shaving operation.

6. The combination of claim 1 with means for withdrawing the skin contacting element away from the flesh of the user to a position where it will not contact the flesh during the shaving operation, while permitting the beard cutting means to contact said flesh.

7. The combination of claim 1 with a second skin contacting element similar to the first said skin contacting element and mounted on the support in the same manner as said first skin contacting element but positioned on the side of said beard cutting means opposite to said first element, and inverted with respect to said first skin contacting element, whereby whichever skin contacting element is to the rear of the beard cutting means during any shaving stroke will always rotate freely and will not push the flesh of the face in the direction of traverse.

8. The device of claim 1 in which the skin contacting element is rotatably mounted in an arm, which arm, in turn, is pivotally connected with the support.

9. in a shaving device having a beard cutting means adapted to be moved in a stroke plane over the surface of the flesh bearing the hairs to be cut, and having a support secured to said device, a skin contacting element rotatably mounted on said support and spaced from and in proximity to said beard cutting means, said support including resilient means for moving said skin contacting element substantially perpendicular to said stroke plane, a second element secured to the support cooperating with a third element on the skin contacting element for locking the skin contacting element against rotation in one dircction while allowing the skin contacting element to rotate freely in the opposite direction when the shaving device is pressed against the flesh and moved across the face of the user to cut the hairs, whereby the skin contacting element tensions the flesh in advance of the beard cutting means.

10. The device of claim 9 wherein said second and said third elements include a ratchet wheel.

11. The device of claim 9 wherein said second and said third elements include a pawl.

12. The combination of claim 9 with means for vary ing the pressure with which said skin contactingelement is urged toward the flesh on the face of the user.

13. The combination of claim 9 with means for selectively setting and maintaining the pressure with which the skin contacting element is urged against the flesh on the face of the user during the shaving operation.

14. The combination of claim 9 with means for withdrawing the skin contacting element away from the flesh of the user to a position where it will not contact the flesh during the shaving operation, while permitting the beard cutting means to contact said flesh.

15. The combination of claim 9 with a second skin contacting element similar to the first said skin contacting element and mounted on the support in the same manner as said first skin contacting element but positioned on the side of said beard cutting means opposite to said first element, and inverted with respect to said first skin contacting element, whereby whichever skin contacting element is to the rear of the beard cutting means during any shaving stroke will always rotate freely and will not push the flesh of the face in the direction of traverse.

16. The device of claim 9 in which the skin contacting element is rotatably mounted in an arm, which arm, in turn, is pivotally connected with the support.

17. In a shaving device of the character described having a beard cutting means adapted to be moved in a stroke plane over the surface of the flesh bearing the hairs to be cut, a support secured to said device, a skin contacting element rotatably mounted on a movable member, means connecting said movable member to the support, said means permitting movement of said movable member and of said skin contacting element in a direction substantially perpendicular to the plane of the shaving stroke, a spring urging said movable member and said skin contacting element toward the flesh on the face of the user during the shaving operation, means for locking said skin contacting element against rotation when the shaving device is being traversed over the face of the user in a first direction, said last means allowing the skin contacting element to rotate freely when the shaving device is being traversed over the face of the user in a second direction opposite to said first direction.

18. The combination of claim 17 with means for adjusting the pressure with which the spring urges the skin contacting element toward the flesh on the face of the user.

N 0 references cited. 

